10 couples vie for Innsbrook wedding package
By Julie Conrey Record Staff Writer Janice Fischer and Eric Kopecky have been dating four years. They’re ready to say “I do.” But there’s one challenge standing in their way. Their budget won’t allow them the dream wedding they really want. Turns out they may not need to compromise after all. The couple is one of 10 finalists in the Innsbrook Resort’s $30,000 dream wedding giveaway. Their names were randomly drawn from among 75 couples who attended the Innsbrook Bridal Show on Sunday, May 4. They were the last couple chosen. “I told her we would be picked,” Kopecky said. “Oh my God, it’s unbelievable,” Fischer said. The wedding giveaway contest was tossed around by the staff at Innsbrook beginning late last year. “The hospitality industry is moving away from conferences and meetings to parties and weddings. We want to be a leader in weddings in the St. Louis market,” said Katie Tucker, marketing director for Innsbrook. This is the first wedding giveaway sponsored by the resort. “We have some cool sponsors,” Tucker said. The wedding day for the lucky couple is Oct. 12. “It’s beautiful out here at that time of year with all the trees changing,” Tucker said. The package includes, but is not limited to, an engagement photo session; golf for up to six members of the wedding party; wedding dress sketch and wedding dress; food and beverages for up to 175 people; flowers; hairstyling and a honeymoon. Approximately 634 couples, mainly from the St. Louis area but some from both coasts and even from some other countries, entered the contest. The couples filled out a form, submitted stories about how they met and uploaded a picture. “There was no word limit on submissions,” said Tucker. “Some (stories) were short, fun to read, cute, funny, quirky and sad. All were very inspiring.” Stories that moved the staff the most were placed in the top 100 entries, from which 10 couples were chosen for a chance at the dream wedding. Heather Barrale and Mike Baker were among the top 100 couples but not the 10 finalists. “We entered for a free dream wedding and no stress on us or our families,” Barrale said. She’s chosen her dress, the October wedding date and a reception hall in Festus. In spite of not making it to the final 10 couples, they were pleased with the way things turned out. “It’s still a beautiful afternoon and we’re glad we got the opportunity to come out. We may plan a weekend out here sometime,” she said. Carol and Floyd Campbell are parents of Braxton Campbell, who’s engaged to David Epperson. The four, from Glen Carbon, Ill., didn’t leave Innsbrook empty-handed. Campbell and Epperson are among the 10 finalists. “I’m so excited, it’s unbelievable,” said mother of the bride Carol Campbell. “They have a chance to have their dream wedding.” The couple found out about the contest on the radio. Kimberly Applegate and Andrew Dwiggins of St. Charles were the fourth couple chosen as finalists. They refer to their relationship as a love story in reverse. “We knew each other in high school and then went our separate ways,” Applegate said. She was living in Colorado and returned to St. Charles for a short time when the two reconnected. They dated long distance for about nine months. Dwiggins, a musician, wrote an entire album of songs convincing Applegate to return to the area. She did. They now have two children and just bought a house. They found out about the wedding giveaway contest online. “I never thought I’d have a big wedding,” Applegate said.“I’m the luckiest guy on the planet,” Dwiggins added. Other lucky couples include Dawna Gravagna and Johnny Goodwin; Paula Dorsey and Kenneth Turner; Christina Hunerkoch and Chris Moore; Kalyn Shaw and Joshua Miller; Melissa Schultz and Chris Baldwin; Nicole Flamm and David Spiker; and Amanda Byrd and Joshua Marsden. Photos of each couple and stories of how they met will be posted on www.Innsbrookweddings.com on May 16. The public has until May 31 to vote for its favorite couple. The winning couple will be announced June 2. From June 9 to July 6, the public is invited to vote on the location at Innsbrook where the wedding will take place, its theme, menu, invitations and cake. They’ll also vote on the couple’s honeymoon destination from among three choices, including Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. The entire wedding package will be announced by the resort on July 8. Non-winning couples received a consolation prize. Innsbrook distributed $500 gift certificates to wed at the resort in 2014, and the first three months of 2015.
Ten St. Louis-area couples are vying for a free $30,000 wedding package from Innsbrook Resort. The 10 couples were narrowed down and named at a bridal show held Sunday, May 4, at Innsbrook.
